RADIO FREE NEW YORK

Stipe and co get up close and personal with competition winners at an intimate gig in Manhattan...

REM performed a tiny gig to an audience of 30 fans in NEW YORK last night (May 18).

The gig, at the Manhattan Museum Of Television And Radio, was for competition winners and fan club members, who sat at the band’s feet, according to a report on www.sonicnet.com.

The gig was broadcast live on an Atlanta radio station. As well as songs from new album ‘Reveal’, which went on sale this week, they added older numbers including ‘Losing My Religion’.

REM are filming a video for their next single, ‘All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be A Star)’, while they are in New York

Meanwhile, the band are set to go straight to Number One in the albums chart tomorrow with ‘Reveal’, which has sold over 71,000 copies in the UK. According to a report in today’s Sun newspaper, they have thrashed Geri Halliwell in the race for the top spot, outselling her ‘Scream If You Wanna Go Faster’ three-to-one.